A major aspect of Indian identity in Ecuador is dress. People familiar with native dress can often tell roughly where an Indian is from based on what they wear. Otavalenos, most often seen in the Quito area, are very distinctive. For men, dress consists of a blue poncho, a fedora, or felt hat, and white calf-length knickers. A shimba -- a long braid that hangs down nearly to the man's waist -- dates back to pre-Inca times, and is deeply rooted in tradition. In fact, the shimba is so important as a symbol of Indigenous ethnic identity, that when Indigenous men serve in the Ecuadorian army, they are not required to cut it off.
The women's dress is the closest to Inca costume worn anywhere in the Andes. Women dress in a white blouses, a blue skirt and shawl. Jewelry is important -- layers of necklaces of predominantly gold beads, and red coral bracelets are the most common form of jewelry worn by the Otavalo women. Although visitors to the area view their dressing styles as quaint or cute, to the Otavaleno, their dress is a way to outwardly express their ethnicity.
